Dispensing carton

ABSTRACT

A container or carton for the storage and dispensing of particulate or granular dry flowable materials such as soap powder, cereals, powdered milk, soap flakes and the like. The carton includes a hinged spout that moves in an opening of the container and has a chamber of preselected volume. The spout normally closes the opening and the chamber is filled by manipulating the carton and returning it to an upright position. Movement of the spout to a dispensing position closes the opening and permits tilting of the container for pouring out the chamber contents.

United States Patent [191 Dressler et al.

[ DISPENSING CARTON [76] Inventors: Thomas C. Dressler, c/o John Paluga, 507 Lamar St., Apt. 142, Arlington, Tex. 76010; Thomas .1. Arnold, 4924 Mohawk, Shawnee Mission, Kans. 66205 [22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 291,562

[52] US. Cl 229/17 M [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/76 [58] Field of Search 222/457, 455, 454, 456; 229/7 R, 17 R, 17M

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 968,717 8/1910 Vaughan 229/17 M 1,940,412 12/1933 Geist 229/17 R [111 3,831,833 [451 Aug. 27, 1974 2,832,516 4/1958 Von Culin 229/7 R X Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fishbum, Gold and Litman ABSTRACT A container or carton for the storage and dispensing of particulate or granular dry flowable materials such as soap powder, cereals, powdered milk, soap flakes and the like. The carton includes a hinged spout that moves in an opening of the container and has a chamber of preselected volume. The spout normally closes the opening and the chamber is filled by manipulating the carton and returning it to an upright position. Movement of the spout to a dispensing position closes the opening and permits tilting of the container for pouring out the chamber contents.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PArimmmsz 11m 1 DISPENSING CARTON The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a storage carton for materials with a measuring spout of a preselected volume for the dispensing of a predetermined quantity of material; to provide such a carton wherein the measuring spout is also the pouring spout to facilitate easy use thereof; to provide such a carton wherein the measuring spout has side portions tightly fitting against the respective edges of the opening in which the measuring spout moves from a filling position to a dispensing position to prevent spillage and leakage of the granulated material; to provide such a measuring spout that in assembly has overlapping portions at the joined corners and edges thereof to prevent leakage therefrom; to provide such a measuring spout with flange portions that overlap portions of the container in the filling and dispensing positions to help seal the opening in the container and to limit the amount of movement of the measuring spout; to provide such a carton that is formed from a die cut blank of semi-rigid material wherein the measuring device is hingedly associated with the carton as an integral part thereof; to provide such a carton that has a shape such that the die cut blank forming same is cut so that all parts are integral and has a minimum of material waste, thereby eliminating the need for the manufacture and assembly of separate parts; and to provide such a carton that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture and assemble and positive and easy to use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton equipped with a measuring spout with the measuring spout open.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a carton and measuring spout with portions broken away, and showing the spout in a position for filling.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a carton with an integral measuring spout shown in a pouring position with portions broken away to show inner parts.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a carton blank showing fold and cut lines from which the carton in FIG. 1 to 3 inclusive may be made.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the carton and the measuring spout with portions broken away to show the structure thereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in many forms that are different from the illustrative embodiments presented herewith. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims actually defining the scope of this invention.

The reference numeral 1 designates generally a carton or container of the type generally used for packaging finely divided particulate, granular or other dry flowable materials. The container 1 is provided with a dispensing member or spout, designated generally by the numeral 2, that is movably mounted on a front or side 3 of the container 1 adjacent to an opening 4 through said wall 3. The dispensing member 2 has a chamber 5 of a preselected volume and is operable to move from a filling position inside the container 1 to a dispensing position wherein it extends outside of the container 1.

The dispensing member or spout 2, may be integral with the carton or a separate member suitably mounted on the carton. The dispensing member has portions arranged relative to the opening 4 to close same when the chamber 5 is inside of the carton or in storage position. The chamber 5 has an open top to receive material when the carton is turned down and up or manipulated for flow of material into said chamber to fill same. The dispensing member may be swung outwardly to a dispensing position wherein it is substantially outside of the carton and a wall of said dispensing member is inside of the wall 3 with portions of the dispensing member and wall 7 engaging margins or edges around the opening 4 to close same. In the dispensing position the dispensing member 2 is arranged to deliver the contents of the chamber 5 in response to tilting of the container 1 toward the dispensing member while retaining the remaining content in the container 1.

In the structure illustrated the dispensing member 2 is hingedly mounted on the wall 3 adjacent to the opening 4 that is defined by side edges 8 and 9 and bottom and top edges 10 and 11 respectively. A hinge portion 6 suitably connects the dispensing member 2 and wall 3 and is operable to allow the dispensing member 2 to pivotally move in the opening 4 from the filling position to the dispensing position. Preferably the dispensing member 2 is comprised of a front wall 13, a back wall 7 and opposed side walls 15 suitably connected together. The walls 13, 7 and 15 have upper edges that define an opening 16 that communicates the chamber 5 with the interior of the container 1 when the dispensing member is in the filling position allowing the contents in the container to flow therefrom into the chamber 5. The upper edges of the side walls 15 are arcuate and have a radius substantially equal to the height of the opening 4 so that the side walls 15 engage the full length of the side edges 8 and 9 during pivotal movement. The front and back walls 13 and 7 respectively have a common apex at the hinge 6 and diverge upwardly therefrom to form a V-shaped dispensing member 2.

The dispensing member 2 is provided with means that limit the amount of pivotal movement thereof and that aid in sealing the container opening 4 when the dispensing member 2 is in the filling position or the dispensing position. In the illustrated structure, the front and back walls 13 and 7 have portions extending therefrom making them longer than the height of the opening 4. The extending portion of the front wall 13 overlaps a portion of the outside surface of the front wall 3 when the dispensing member 2 is in the filling position and the extending portion of the back wall 7 overlaps a portion of the inside surface of the front wall 3 when the dispensing member is in the dispensing position. To further aid in sealing the opening 4 from leakage of the material packaged in the container 1, the side walls 15 engage respective side edges 8 and 9 of the opening 4. Preferably the back wall 7 is slightly wider than the front wall 13 whereby the side walls 15 diverge toward the back wall 7 urging the side walls 15 into sealing engagement with the side edges 8 and 9 of the opening 4.

The container 1 in the illustrated structure is a 6- sided box of rectangular cross sections and includes a top wall 17, bottom wall 19 and opposed side walls 3 and 18, and 20 and 21. Preferably the container 1 is formed from a die cut sheet or blank 22 of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or the like. The blank 22 is folded along the score lines 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 indicated by broken lines in FIG. 4, and the overlapping portions are secured together to form the container l. The upper and lower edges of the side walls 18, 20 and 21 are defined by the score lines 29 and 28 respectively, and the side edges of the walls 20, 18 and 21 are defined by the score lines 24 and 25, 25 and 26 and 26 and 27 respectively. Suitable folds are made along the score lines 24, 25, 26 and 27 to bring the side walls 20 and 21 into opposed relation. Panels 34 and 35 and a tab 36 are folded along the score line 29 in such a manner that the panel 34 overlies the panel 35, which both overlie the tab 36 and adhesively securing same together forms the top wall 17. Panels 38 and 39 and a tab 40 are folded along the score line 28 whereby the panel 38 overlies the panel 39, which both overlie the tab 40 and adhesively securing same together forms the bottom wall 19. Tabs 42 and 43 are folded along the score line 26 and overlie portions of the side wall 18 and are adhesively secured to same for sealing the corners between the side wall 18 and the top wall 17, and bottom wall 19 respectively. Panels 45 and 46 are folded along the score lines 27 and 24 respectively whereby the panel 45 is in overlying relation to the panel 46 and is adhesively secured thereto. Tabs 47, 48 and 49 are folded along the score lines 27, 24 and 28 respectively whereby the panels 45 and 46 overlie the tab 47 that overlies the tab 48 for aiding sealing of the corner between the walls 3 and 19. The tab 49 overlies a portion of the panel 38 and is then adhesively secured thereto thereby sealing the comer between the side wall 3 and the bottom wall 19. A tab 51 is folded along the score line 27 so as to overlie a portion 52 of the panel 45 and is adhesively secured thereto whereby the corner between the side wall 3 and the top wall 17 is sealed. When the container 1 is assembled, as above described, a notch 54 of the panel 45 substantially registers with the notch 55 of the panel 46 forming the opening 4 that extends through the side wall 3. The notch 54 has a lesser height than the notch 55 thereby providing the front wall portion that is engageable or overlapped by the extending portions of the front and back walls 13 and 14 of the dispensing member 2. 1n the structure illustrated the opening 4 is defined by edges 8, and 11 of the notch 54 and the edge 9 of the notch 45.

Preferably, the container 1 and the dispensing member 2 are formed from a single die cut sheet or blank 22 whereby the dispensing member 2 is an integral part of the container 1 eliminating the need for a hinge that is a separate piece. The dispensing member 2 portion of the blank 22 is suitably folded along the score lines 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62 that are indicated by broken lines in FIG. 4 and securing the overlying portions together forms the dispensing member 2. As illustrated, the front wall 13 overlies a tab 65 and a tab 66, the tab 66 being positioned between the front wall 13 and the tab 65. The overlying portions of the front wall 13, the tab 65 and the tab 66 are adhesively secured together forming the dispensing member 2 and seals the dispensing member 2 from leaking. The hinge 6 in the described integral structure is a bend or crease in the container material.

The container 1 is appropriately sealed by the manufacturer or filler of the container before shipping same to the distributor. One method of sealing the container would be to place an adhesive strip (not shown) in overlying relation to the front wall 13 and have portions thereof extending beyond the edges of the front wall 13 to adhesively engage the side wall 3 of the container 1 thereby sealing the opening 4 and the dispens ing member 2 from leakage during shipping and storage.

In operation, the dispensing member 2 is pivotally moved to the filling position as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the container 1 is then tilted or inverted to allow the contents therein to flow or move adjacent to the opening 16 of the dispensing member 2. The container 1 is then turned back upright and the dispensing member 2 is thereby filled with a portion of the contents of the container 1. The dispensing member 2 is then moved to a pouring position as illustrated in FIG. 3 whereby the opening 16 is outside of the container 1, and the extending portion of the back wall 7 engages an inside surface of the wall 3 to help seal the opening 4 of the container 1. Tilting of the container 1 allows the contents or material in the dispensing member 2 to be poured therefrom. After dispensing the dispensing member 2 is then moved back to the filling position whereby the extending portion of the front wall 13 en gages the outside surface of the side wall 3 to close the opening 4.

It is to be understood that while we have illustrated and described certain forms of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A measuring device for the discharge of a predetermined quantity of material from a container comprising:

a. walls defining a container, one wall thereof having an opening therethrough adjacent an upper end of said container;

b. a dispensing member integrally formed with the same blank as said container and hingedly associated with said one wall adjacent to said container opening, said dispensing member having opposed front and back walls and opposed side walls defining a generally 60 V-shaped chamber with an open top facing generally toward said upper end of the container whereby said dispensing member is selectively hingedly movable in said container opening from a filling position to a dispensing position;

. said dispensing member front wall having a portion thereof in overlapping relation to a portion of an outside surface of the container one wall when said dispensing member is in said filling position for preventing leakage of material from said carton and presenting an edge for finger engagement to facilitate hingedly moving said spout; and

. said dispensing member back wall having a portion overlapping a portion of an inside surface of the container front wall for preventing said dispensing member from being withdrawn from said container and for sealing said container opening when said dispensing member is in the dispensing position,

said back wall being wider than said dispensing member front wall whereby said side walls diverge toward said back wall for urging said side walls into sealing engagement with side edges of said container opening.

2. A dispensing carton with a measuring dispenser for discharge of a predetermined quantity of material from the carton comprising:

a. walls defining a container, one wall thereof having a dispensing opening therethrough with side and top edges;

b. a dispensing member integrally formed with the same blank as said container and having walls defining a chamber, said walls including opposed front and back walls forming an angle of about 60lliig q 5 or less with each other and opposed side walls, said dispensing member being movably mounted on said container one wall adjacent said dispensing opening for swinging movement from a filling position to a dispensing position;

0. said dispensing member walls having edges defining an opening within the container and communicating said chamber with the interior of the container whereby said chamber can be filled with material stored in said container when the dispensing member is in filling position, said dispensing member extending outside of the container when in dispensing position;

d. said dispensing member side walls sealingly engaging side edges of said dispensing opening; and

e. said front and rear walls of said dispensing member extending beyond the side walls and respectively engage said one wall for limiting swinging movement of the dispensing member and closing said dispensing opening in container closing and material dispensing positions. 

1. A measuring device for the discharge of a predetermined quantity of material from a container comprising: a. walls defining a container, one wall thereof having an opening therethrough adjacent an upper end of said container; b. a dispensing member integrally formed with the same blank as said container and hingedly associated with said one wall adjacent to said container opening, said dispensing member having opposed front and back walls and opposed side walls defining a generally 60* V-shaped chamber with an open top facing generally toward said upper end of the container whereby said dispensing member is selectively hingedly movable in said container opening from a filling position to a dispensing position; c. said dispensing member front wall having a portion thereof in overlapping relation to a portion of an outside surface of the container one wall when said dispensing member is in said filling position for preventing leakage of material from said carton and presenting an edge for finger engagement to facilitate hingedly moving said spout; and d. said dispensing member back wall having a portion overlapping a portion of an inside surface of the container front wall for preventing said dispensing member from being withdrawn from said container and for sealing said container opening when said dispensing member is in the dispensing position, said back wall being wider than said dispensing member front wall whereby said side walls diverge toward said back wall for urging said side walls into sealing engagement with side edges of said container opening.
 2. A dispensing carton with a measuring dispenser for discharge of a predetermined quantity of material from the carton comprising: a. walls defining a container, one wall thereof having a dispensing opening therethrough with side and top edges; b. a dispensing member integrally formed with the same blank as said container and having walls defining a chamber, said walls including opposed front and back walls forming an angle of about 60* or less with each other and opposed side walls, said dispensing member being movably mounted on said container one wall adjacent said dispensing opening for swinging movement from a filling position to a dispensing position; c. said dispensing member walls having edges defining an opening within the container and communicating said chamber with the interior of the container whereby said chamber can be filled with material stored in said container when the dispensing member is in filling position, said dispensing member extending outside of the container when in dispensing position; d. said dispensing member side walls sealingly engaging side edges of said dispensing opening; and e. said front and rear walls of said dispensing member extending beyond the side walls and respectively engage said one wall for limiting swinging movement of the dispensing member and closing said dispensing opening in container closing and material dispensing positions. 